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Travel to Borneo and leave urban life behind. Head into lush jungles, down scenic rivers and through the vibrant villages of beautiful Borneo. On the way, soak up stunning mountain vistas, meet local indigenous people, relax in stunning scenery and have an encounter with some pretty special wildlife. There's no doubt that this adventure in Borneo will find its way into your heart and leave you with unforgettable memories.

$1 deposits on now

$1 deposits on now

Lock in the trip of a lifetime for only $1 before February 15, 2019.

The offer of $1 deposits to secure an Intrepid Travel small group adventure applies to bookings made January 3 at 12:00am PST - February 15, 2019 at 11:59pm PST and is valid on trips departing January 3 - December 14, 2019.
The $1 deposit offer is ONLY available to customers booking in the following currencies: USD and CAD.
The $1 deposit can be paid towards any Intrepid Travel small group adventure with the following exclusions: Polar trips – includes all itineraries in the Arctic and Antarctic; Expedition Trips; Private Groups; Adventure Cruising, Short Breaks and gorilla treks – pre purchased permits are required to secure the trek to see the gorillas. Excluded gorilla trekking trips: YXOG, YXOCC, YXOIC, YXOEC, YXOGC, YXOFC, UXODC, YGAG, YGAR.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If a customer wishes to book the Inca Trial trek they are not eligible for the $1 deposit offer and will be required to pay the full deposit price at the time of booking. Pre-purchased permits are required to secure this trek. Trips with Inca Trail trek option: GGKY, GGBL, GGSQ, GGTA, GGHC-O, GGKP, GGKY, GGTBC, GGSEC, GGSO, GGSUC, GGRQC, GGRWC, GGRNC, GGRPC, GGRTC. If the customer chooses to book the Quarry Trail trek or train option they do not require a permit and the trip can be booked with the $1 deposit offer.
PAYMENT TERMS:
If the customer is traveling after July 15, 2019 we require $1 deposit at time of booking, as of May 15, 2019, the remaining trip deposit amount is due. Full payment is due 56 days prior to departure for all trip styles.
If traveling prior to July 15, 2019, we require $1 deposit at time of booking, and full payment is due 56 days prior to departure.
If booking within 56 days of departure, full payment is due immediately.
If the customer wishes to cancel and rebook or to change dates or tours outside the promotional period they will be required to pay the full deposit towards the new trip.
The offer can be applied to new bookings only. Under no circumstances will the offer be applied to existing bookings.
There will be no extensions to the booking, travel or payment periods.
The offer applies to the tour price only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.
Intrepid Travel's Booking Conditions apply to the trip booked and it is imperative that you examine those conditions before booking with Intrepid Travel. The most up-to-date Booking Conditions are accessible at http://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-intrepid/booking-conditions.
As outlined in the Intrepid Travel Booking Conditions, travel insurance is compulsory for all Intrepid Travel customers and should be taken out prior to or at the time of booking. See the Booking Conditions for more details.
Prices, itineraries and inclusions are subject to change without notice. Standard booking conditions apply as per Intrepid Travel website: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-intrepid/booking-conditions.
The trip is subject to availability and confirmation by Intrepid Travel at time of booking.

Why you'll love this trip

Experience life in a Dusun village while enjoying a delicious home-cooked lunch of local flavours.

Explore the unspoiled wilderness of the Kinabalu National Park by walking the trails at the base of this iconic mountain.

Look over gloriously verdant rolling hills with a night at a tea plantation, including a tour and sampling of delicious local varieties.

One of the wildest places on earth, Borneo offers rare treats for the nature lover – see orangutans in Sepilok, proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay and search for wildlife while cruising the Kinabatangan River and on a jungle walk.

During two days on glorious Manukan Island there's plenty of time to soak up the relaxed beach vibe, and to get close to marine life on an included snorkelling trip.

Is this trip right for you?

As we travel across Sabah you'll stay in a variety of different accommodation, from standard hotels, to unique chalets and jungle lodges. Some accommodation may have less amenities than a standard hotel, but the unique locations and proximity to nature make them stand out favourites for our travellers.

We walk some of the lower trails in Kinabalu National Park but do not climb the mountain itself. If this is something that interests you, check out our Sabah Adventure or Borneo: Hike, Bike & Kayak trips.

This trip covers a lot of distance, so be prepared for some long drives of up to 5 hours. Wherever possible, you'll make stops in interesting locations to break up the trip and we use private transport throughout for extra comfort.

Travelling light is essential, as there is a strict 15 kg maximum luggage limit for check in luggage on the internal flight. Excess luggage will incur extra fees, payable on ground to the airline.

Gallery

Itinerary

Selamat datang! Welcome to Malaysia. An arrival airport transfer is included. Please advise your flight details at time of booking or 14 days prior to departure so as we can book this transfer for you. Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 6pm, which you can find details about at the hotel’s reception. If you have any free time beforehand, perhaps explore this intriguing city that was born between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Modern-day 'KK' is a vibrant modern metropolis, having recovered from World War II bombings. The Sabah State Museum is a great place to immerse yourself in its backstory.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

Optional Activities

Kota Kinabalu - Sabah Museum entrance fee - MYR15

Meals Included

Leaving Kota Kinabalu behind, you'll head for the hills and travel towards the unspoiled wilderness of the World Heritage-listed Mt Kinabalu National Park (approximately 3 hours). You will stop off en route at a local home at Dusun Village. Sample the local foods with a home cooked lunch to get some insight into what it’s like to live in a rural village. Later you can stretch your legs and soak up the mountain scenery with a stroll through Mt Kinabalu National Park. There are many walking trails from which you can bird watch. The Mountain Botanic Garden is an excellent showcase of the diverse plant life on the mountain, as flora from all over the park has been replanted here. Late in the afternoon you travel by private bus to Sabah Tea Plantation (approximately 30 mins). Tonight you will stay in the grounds of a lush tea garden.

Accommodation

Cottage (1 night)

Included Activities

Mt Kinabalu National Park - Lower trails guided walk

Mt Kinabalu National Park - Nepenthes Garden

Dusun Village - Home-cooked lunch

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Special Information

Please see "itinerary disclaimer" section of this document for changes to accommodation on this night for some departures.

After breakfast you will take a tour of the tea factory itself, ending in sampling some of the delicious varieties. From there, head to Kinabatangan River in private mini van, a trip of approximately 5 hours. Your jungle lodge, located beside the river, is ideal for taking in the lush surrounds. At 560 kilometres, the Kinabatangan River is the second longest river in Malaysia. It's also a protected forest reserve, containing some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo. Later in the afternoon you will take a river cruise, hopefully spotting some of the more exotic local creatures. Wild elephants seldom reveal themselves, but crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutan, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and kingfishers are more easily seen. After this short adventure you'll head back to the lodge to enjoy dinner.

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night)

Included Activities

Sabah Tea Plantation - Tea factory tour

Sabah Tea Plantation - Tea tasting

Kinabatangan River - Wildlife spotting cruise

Meals Included

You might awake to the call of a Bornean gibbon, or perhaps a hornbill. Enjoy an early morning cruise down the river, searching for more birds and wildlife. Keep an eye out for Long Tail Macaques and Pig Tail Macaques – ask your leader about the difference. Later that morning take a walk to Bilit Village, home to the local Orang Sungei community. The Orang Sungei, which translates to ‘River People’ are one of Sabah’s many indigenous communities and are very hospitable with a diverse cultural heritage. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon before your final river cruise to see wildlife along the river bank. This final river cruise will be your last chance to photograph or simply marvel at your surrounds. Spend one more night in your lovely accommodation right in the heart of the jungle.

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night)

Included Activities

Kinabatangan River - Wildlife spotting cruise

Kinabatangan River - Guided jungle walk

Meals Included

Travelling by private minivan, you will stop to visit the intricate Gomantong Caves. Renowned for their edible swiftlet nets, which are harvested for bird's nest soup. Bird's nest collection is an ancient tradition, though nowadays licences are required for it. Travelling to Sandakan, a journey of 3 hours, you will stop in at the Sandakan War Memorial. Here you will learn about the city's past as you stand on the same ground of the former Japanese POW camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches, on which 2,400 POWs were forced to walk through the jungles of Borneo. By the end of the march, only 6 Australians survived, and only because they had escaped. Arrive in Sandakan, which was once the capital of British North Borneo and traditionally has strong trading ties with Hong Kong. The Cantonese influence is palpable in the lively harbour-side market, the many Chinese temples and the local cuisine.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Sandakan - War Memorial

Sukau - Gomantong Caves

Meals Included

This morning take a private transfer to the Sepliok Orangutan Sanctuary (approximately 1 hour). The centre was set up to help re-introduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. From the viewing platform, you can watch and photograph these charming creatures as they swing into view and eat the supplementary diet of bananas and milk that is laid out for them twice a day. Human contact must be kept to a minimum and it's essential that you follow the instructions of the park, as directed by your leader. Also included is a new nursery where you can view young orangutans as they learn how to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym. The viewing area is behind one-way glass so as to not disturb the animals. To see more of Borneo’s creatures there’s the option to visit the newly opened Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center. Here rescued Sun Bears that have spent many years mistreated and locked away in cages are cared for, with hopes of rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild. You will also visit the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you can watch up close the amazing bachelor proboscis lazing and feeding – an experience that can only be found in Borneo.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Sepilok - Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Optional Activities

Sepilok - Rainforest Discovery Centre - MYR15

Sepilok - Bornean Sun Bear Centre - MYR32

Meals Included

Transfer to Sandakan Airport today for a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Keep in mind that the luggage allowance for this flight is only 15 kg of check in luggage and one cabin bag of 7kg and any excess baggage will incur a further charge paid direct to the airline. A short boat ride (around 20 minutes) takes you to Manukan Island, just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. This is one of the larger islands found in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. The first of two days on this island will be free for you to explore the island at your leisure – perhaps swimming or local activities. The 1.5-kilometre beach is lovely to stroll along at low tide.

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night)

Meals Included

Enjoy a snorkelling trip today, where an array of coral and brightly coloured marine life reveals itself, conditions depending. An optional scuba dive trip from Manukan Island is also on offer for those interested in a more immersive experience. If you are interested, let your leader know and it can be arranged. After snorkelling, the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Soak up the turquoise vistas for another few hours as you stroll or swim about in this gorgeous corner of the world.

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night)

Included Activities

Tunku Abdul National Marine Park - Snorkeling Trip

Optional Activities

Kota Kinabalu - Tunku Abdul Marine Park Scuba diving 3 dives - MYR380

Meals Included

Head back to Kota Kinabalu today by boat and minivan. This will take around 40 minutes. Optional activities include a visit the intriguing Mari Mari Cultural Village, nestled deep in the countryside. Here you will see how indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live. Or a visit to the Sabah Museum to learn about Sabah’s past or do some last minute souvenir shopping at the Filipino market . Tonight, perhaps head out for a final meal with your group to celebrate your Borneo adventure.

Important notes

1. An Airport Arrival Transfer is included. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking.
2. There is a strict limit of 7kg for carry on and 15 kg for check in luggage on the internal flight. Excess luggage will incur additional fees payable on the ground to the airline.
3. A Single Supplement to have your own room is available and includes all nights.
4. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Eastern Sabah before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.